Tassel and pompom making apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tassel making device which comprises a U-shaped member wherein wrappings of material can be deposited on the first and second members which extend outwardly from a base member.

[451 Dec. 17,1974

United States Patent 1191 Montoya TASSEL AND POMPOM MAKING APPARATUS e n e S O R [76] Inventor: Jonas Montoya, 400 E. Randolph, 3 591 904 Chicago, 111. 60601 June 5, 1972 Primaty Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt [22] Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Merriam, Marshall, Shapiro & Klose [21] Appl. No.: 259,543 7 [57] ABSTRACT A tassel making device which comprises a U-shaped member wherein wrappings of material can be depos- [52] US. Cl. 28/2 [51] Int Cl 004d 7/08, D04d 7/06 [58] Field of 28/2, 72

ited on the first and second members which extend outwardly from a base member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4'Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 2,311,575 Robinson...........,...................... 28/2 PATENTED DEC] 7 I974 sum 1 or 2 m B 4 M i w PATENTEL DEC! 71974 SHEET 20F 2 FIG.9

1 TASSEL AND POMPOM MAKING APPARATUS This invention relates to a device and method for making tassels, pompon and the like and more particularly to a device which can be utilized by non-skilled personnel to quickly and efficiently make tassels or pom-poms of varying sizes.

In making curtains, drapes, shawls, tablecloths and the like, tassels are often utilized to provide a desired asthetic effect. In some instances, the tassel is made by winding yarn or some other material about a piece of cardboard or other material after which the windings are tied and cut. Unfortunately, it has been found that it is difficult to achieve the desired consistency between tassels absent a large expense in effort and time.

What is desired is to make a tassel, pompon or the like wherein the tassels can be made easily, by a relatively unskilled operator. Moreover,'it is desired to have the tassels be consistent in their shape and size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found with the new and unobvious invention disclosed and claimed herein that a tassel can be readily assembled without need of a skilled operator by utilizing spaced members having guide and retaining means therein on which windings can be deposited in the course of a tassel making operation.

One embodiment of the present invention employs a U-shaped device wherein the legs or members extending out from the base are grooved along their outer and outboard walls. Additionally, an identation is placed in Members 13, 14 each comprise outer walls 15, 16, inner walls 17, 18 and outboard walls 19, 20. Outer walls 15, 16 have grooves 21, .22 along at least a portion of their respective lengths. The grooves serve as guiding and retaining means for windings to be utilized in making a tassel or the like in accordance with the invention disclosed herein. Grooves 29, 30 are located in at least one of the members adjacent the outer wallto allow the windings to be turned in that indentation so that windings about the spaced members can occur substantially normal to the axis of the spaced members.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, including the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tassel making device;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along lines 2--2 in FIG. 1'

FIGS. 3-8 show progressive steps for making the tas winding at an angle to the winding material located in groove 21.

FIGS. 3-8 inclusive show the progressive steps of making the tassel of FIG. 8. Initially, a chord of suitable material such as yarn from which the tassel is to be made is deposited in grooves 22 and 30 of second member 14. The yarn or chord is then drawn to member 13 where it is deposited into groove 31 on outboard wall 19 and along groove 21 of outer wall 15 until indentation 23 is reached. At indentation 23, the yarn is turned or pulled into the indentation.

Yarn 100 is then drawn across top surface 25 of member 13 and across top surface 26 of member 14. The yarn is pulled across outer wall 16 and bottom surface 27 of member 14 and across bottom surface 28 and outerwall 15 of member 13 at which point it is located contiguous to indentation 23. As shown in FIG. 4, the wrapping of yarn 100 about spaced members 13, 14 can be repeated as desired depending upon the particular tassel requirements.

When a sufficient number of wrappings have been made about members 13, 14, yarn 100is'cut, preferably at'location'31. Chords 102, 103 of winding 105 portion can be tied together at the top of the tassel in the manner shown in FIGS. 5,6, the effect being that the top windings of the tassel are securely fastened together.

A short length of yarn or other material 104 is tied about the windings at a location contiguous to member 14 to securely fasten the windings at that point so as to form the head 106 of the tassel 110.

wherein one member is adjustably positioned in different positions along the base of said device;

FIG. 11 is a section view taken along the lines 11-11 in FIG. 10;and,

FIG. 12 is a section view taken along lines 12-12 in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION base 11 and first and second members 13, 14 which extend outward from base 11.

Subsequently, the windings at the location of groove 21 in first member 13 are severed by any suitable means as for example a razor or shears, along groove 21. This cutting action serves to release the yarn windings from member 13. The tassel is then slipped off of member 14 after which all the uneven tuffs or yarns can be trimmed to produce finished tassel 110. While tassel 110 has been made with chords 102, 103 employed to tie the yarn windings. it is appreciated that these chords can be trimmed if desired; however. these chords are often desirable for they are used to attach tassel 110 to a drape or tablecloth.

In making a pompon, the procedure utilized to make the tassel is employed in so far as the material such as crepe paper is deposited in grooves 22, 30 of member 14 and grooves 21, 29 of member 13. The material is turned into indentation 23 as previously described for making a tassel. The material is then wound around FIG. 4. The material is cut at point 101 (FIG. 3) and the winding portion chord 105, which comprises chords 102, 103, is pulled from the device and wrapped around the windings approximately midway the distance between walls l7, 18. A razor 107 or scissors is used to cut the material at groove 22 in member 14 and groove 21 in member 13. The pompon is then fluffed.

by hand to complete the finished product.

FIGS. 9-12 show an embodiment of the invention disclosed and claimed herein. FIG. 9 shows a bar 50 which is notched at different increments 51 along its length. First member 53 is securely fastened to one end of bar 50, member 53 extending outwardly normal to bar 50. A second member 54 is adapted to be adjust ably fastened to bar 50 and, like member 53, member 54 extends outward from and normal to bar 50. Bar 50 has a clove tail groove 55 which is adapted to receive tongue 56 of member 54 whereby member 54scan slide along substantially the entire length of bar 50.

Both members 53 and 54 have stiffening ribs 57 located at the end adjacent bar 50. The ribs serve to hold member 54 in position at its desired location along bar 50. When a tassel is made employing the device 50 of FIG. 9, member 54 is adjusted to the desired tassel size as indicated on bar 50, i.e., 3 inches, 4 inches, etc. Member 54 is frictionally retained in the desired position. The yarn or material is then wedged into slot 51 after which the yarn is deposited into guide and retaining grooves 60,61 of member 54. The yarn or winding is continued in the manner shown in FIG. to member 53 where the yarn is deposited in grooves 62 and 63 after which it is turned upward into indentation 64. The yarn is then wound as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 10'fol1owing the steps outlined previously in discussion of FIGS. 3-8 inclusive, Employing the two piece embodiment of FIG. 9, tassels or pompons of different lengths can readily be made whereas the single piece 1. Apparatus for making a tassel or the like from a flexible string of material, said apparatus comprising:

a substantially flat U-shaped object having spaced first and second members projecting outwardly from a base member,

- said first and second members each having inner and I outer walls connected by an outboard wall,

said outboard and outer walls of said first and second members having retaining means located along at least a portion of their length for guiding and retaining a flexible string of material therein; a stringretaining notch disposed on at least one of said first and second members adjacent said retaining means; and,

means mounting one of said first and second members on said base member for adjusting the space between said first and second members, whereby a string of material may be guided and retained by said retaining means and said notch in the course of making a tassel or the like. 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a groove located along .at least a portion of the length of said outer and outboard walls.

3. An apparatus for making a tassel, pompom or the like, said apparatus comprising:

a base member; spaced first and second members each extending outwardly from said base member,

said first and second members each having inner and outer walls and an outboard wall joining said inner and outer walls,

at least a portion of said outerwalls and outboard walls having means for guiding and retaining material to be employed in making a tassel, pompom or the like;

a material retaining indentation on at least one of said first and second members; and, means mounting one of said first and'second members on said base member-for adjusting the space between said first and second members, whereby material to be employed for making a tassel, .pompom or the like may be retained by said retaining means of said outer and outboard walls and by said indentation and said material may be wrapped about said first and second members.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 and further including material retaining indentations at gradu ated intervals along said base member., 

1. Apparatus for making a tassel or the like from a flexible string of material, said apparatus comprising: a substantially flat U-shaped object having spaced first and second members projecting outwardly from a base member, said first and second members each having inner and outer walls connected by an outboard wall, said outboard and outer walls of said first and second members having retaining means located along at least a portion of their length for guiding and retaining a flexible string of material therein; a string retaining notch disposed on at least one of said first and second members adjacent said retaining means; and, means mounting one of said first and second members on said base member for adjusting the space between said first and second members, whereby a string of material may be guided and retained by said retaining means and said notch in the course of making a tassel or the like.
 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a groove located along at least a portion of the length of said outer and outboard walls.
 3. An apparatus for making a tassel, pompom or the like, said apparatus comprising: a base member; spaced first and second members each extending outwardly from said base member, said first and second members each having inner and outer walls and an outboard wall joining said inner and outer walls, at least a portion of said outer walls and outboard walls having means for guiding and retaining material to be employed in making a tassel, pompom or the like; a material retaining indentation on at least one of said first and second members; and, means mounting one of said first and second members on said base member for adjusting the space between said first and second members, whereby material to be employed for making a tassel, pompom or the like may be retained by said retaining means of said outer and outboard walls and by said indentation and said material may be wrapped about said first and second members.
 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 and further including material retaining indentations at graduated intervals along said base member. 